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“Hey, Miller, buddy, it’s okay. I’m sure Kenzie wasn’t all that upset about it. Right, baby?”
“Pfft, I’ve been called worse,” I agree with Dad, and he beams at me.
“Doesn’t make it right.” Miller grabs hold of the back of the sofa, and I hear some fabric rip.
Dad’s smile drops, and he frowns at Miller. “Hey, why don’t you go cool down?” Dad suggests, and I have an idea.
“Why don’t you take the bike for a spin? That should help, and when I’m done with this conversation, we’ll get going, okay?” I propose, pointing at the keys on the little side table, and I see all the tension leak out of his body.
“Yeah, thanks, I will.” He doesn’t say goodbye to anyone, just grabs the keys and leaves.
“How did you know that would work?” When I turn to look at Ryland, his mouth is dropped open in shock.
“I didn’t,” I tell him, and Dad chuckles.
“It’s because they are so alike, it’s frightening. She often rides a bike to calm her down when she gets worked up.” I flip my dad off, but he’s not wrong.
“See? I called it,” Lathan gloats, nudging me in the side, and I push back, a feeling of warmth rushing through me. Holy crap, what is that? Am I getting slightly attached to this bunch of assholes? Nope, time to reactivate lonely island mode.
“Please, I’m not an angry asshole like he is,” I argue, and Dad tips his head to the side and studies me closely. I refrain from wiggling under his penetrating stare, but it’s a close call.
“No, but you have your own insecurities.”
Damn it. Dad always sees right through me. He sighs and runs his hand through his hair, rubbing the other one across his face. I actually pay attention, noticing my dad is in a T-shirt and that I can see our lounge room in the background. He looks pretty tired, and I don’t like it. I can’t remember the last time he and Mom went on vacation. Maybe once I get home, I can convince them to leave for a while.
“Okay, let’s get back to the subject at hand. Bishop is causing problems and threatening to cause more. We’ll have to recall him and reassign him… again. Do you think he will tank this case for you?” Dad asks, sounding weary. “He knows you were his last resort. I can’t believe he wouldn’t try.”
“I just don’t think he’s cut out to be a team player. He’d be better off being a ghost like Kenzie. He’s too arrogant and self-involved to work well with a team,” Dayton suggests, and I turn to look at him, raising an eyebrow, and he sputters slightly. “Ah, not that I’m saying you’re anything like that.” He tries to backpedal quickly, and Max and Anders move away slightly so as not to get in the line of fire. “I mean, so far we seem to be working well together, don’t we?” It’s his turn to raise an eyebrow, and I can’t believe it, but I think he may be referring to the incident this afternoon, when we did work pretty damn well together. There’s a mischievous glint in his eyes, and I’m taken aback. I didn’t think he had it in him. Dayton has been standoffish and cool toward me, so I wonder what has brought about this change in behavior. Or is he finally starting to understand that I can be a valuable asset?
“He is intimidated by Kenzie, and to be honest, I don’t think he would tank this case, but I think he would definitely out Kenzie. That would all but ensure that she would no longer be able to work for MITHOS.” Lathan pulls off his glasses and cleans them with his shirt. When he lifts it, I can see smooth abs, and I snap my mouth closed so no drool leaks out.
Jesus, Kenzie, get it together.
Dad swears a blue streak, and I hear my mother in the background. “Percy, what is it? Is everything okay?” My mother appears on the screen, and her smile lights up her face. “Ah, there are my favorite people.” Then she notices me sitting in front, and her smile gets even bigger. “Oh, and my baby girl! It warms a mother’s heart to see you all together. Is it going well?” she asks, and we all respond with various affirmations, but then her gaze falls on the unconscious Bishop. “What is wrong with him?” She looks around and frowns. “And where is my Miller?”
Her Miller? What the actual fuck?
“Miller is cooling off, and Bishop is having an enforced rest,” Max explains to her. “You look beautiful, as always, Sadie.”
His compliment distracts her slightly, and she smiles at him. “Oh, my handsome boy, I missed you when you did not come home with the others. You too, Ryland.”
“Okay, back the truck up. What is going on here? How are you all so familiar with each other and I have never heard of this team?” I’m annoyed and ready to get to the bottom of at least this one mystery. No one was very forthcoming the last time I asked.
“Every time Team Basilisk has been home, they have stayed with us due to not having their own house until recently. Coincidentally, this occurred when you were off on assignments,” Dad says, rubbing his chin, and I can tell he’s not telling me the complete truth.
I glare at him, and he and Mom exchange a look, and then he sighs and drops his hand.
“Fine, I deliberately kept you apart until now. I had always intended for you to join their team, but none of you were ready yet. I thought it would be better to keep you apart until the time was right. Look, none of you are getting any younger, and, well, Kenzie, won’t it be nice to have someone else in your life other than just us and Katie?”
My mouth drops open, and I stare at my parents in shock. Are they actually matchmaking? Are they trying to set me up with the whole team, or do they have a particular member in mind?
“No. We are not even going there today,” I tell them, shaking my head and waving a finger. I can’t believe what I am hearing. “We are going to worry about that problem first” —I stab my finger at Bishop— “then we are going to solve this case, and only then will we discuss whatever this is that you two are scheming,” I growl at my parents, who don’t even have the grace to look embarrassed. In fact, my mother crosses her arms and tips her head at me like she’s daring me to try her. No, not going there, and if I have to catch the next flight to Jordan and ask for asylum from my grandpa just to escape her schemes, I will. She will not get the best of me.
“Ryland, honey, why don’t you go see if Miller is okay?” Mom ignores me and speaks to the guy next to me.
“Pfft, he’s fine, he has my bike.” I brush off her concerns, and her gaze turns frosty, even as Ryland quickly gets up to do as instructed. He disappears out the back curtain-covered door.
“Did you just question me, Kensington?” My mother adopts her imperial princess voice, and I roll my eyes.
